By Benjamin Yount/Illinois Radio Network

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Transportation is hoping that some personal stories get people to be safer on the roads before hitting the highways this summer.

For the second year in a row, IDOT is sharing the stories of the real people who’ve died on the highways in Illinois.

It’s called the “Life or Death Illinois” ad campaign. IDOT’s Guy Tridgell said the new ads on radio and the internet will highlight some of the more than 1,000 people who died in crashes last year.

“We’ve had a lot of success in the past by getting the public’s attention when we can put real names and faces to these issues. And that’s what we’re trying to do here,” Tridgell said. “To show people there are real life or death consequences to when they get behind the wheel.”

Tridgell said the new ads will honor the legacy of the people who’ve died.

“We’re calling attention to the fact that these are somebody’s mother, father, son, daughter, neighbor, co-worker, you name it, who had their life taken away,” he said.

More than 1,000 deaths in crashes have been reported in Illinois in each of the last three years. So far this year, 244 people have died.